diff --git a/src/xterm.c b/src/xterm.c
index 14d77c1adc2..793d24c2199 100644
--- a/src/xterm.c
+++ b/src/xterm.c
@@ -5601,6 +5601,8 @@ x_term_init (display_name, xrm_option, resource_name)
   struct x_display_info *dpyinfo;
   XrmDatabase xrdb;
 
+  BLOCK_INPUT;
+
   if (!x_initialized)
     {
       x_initialize ();
@@ -5643,7 +5645,10 @@ x_term_init (display_name, xrm_option, resource_name)
 
   /* Detect failure.  */
   if (dpy == 0)
-    return 0;
+    {
+      UNBLOCK_INPUT;
+      return 0;
+    }
 
   /* We have definitely succeeded.  Record the new connection.  */
 
@@ -5817,6 +5822,8 @@ x_term_init (display_name, xrm_option, resource_name)
     init_sigio (connection);
 #endif /* ! defined (SIGIO) */
 
+  UNBLOCK_INPUT;
+
   return dpyinfo;
 }